Why is there a slot in the forward cross bar? I am talking about the slot that runs the length of the bar from port to starboard on the top. Is this for the Sport 17's jib cleats to be mounted to? I am wondering because for my purposes I was thinking of using this channel to mount a few things to the bar. Have been thinking of a place to mount a gps, compass, and SPOT tracker. Imagining some sort of vertical bar with a place to mount to. Possibly even some sort of weather protection. Thanks.

The slot doesn't serve any purpose. The front crossbar is made from the same extrusion as the rear crossbar, so when Hobie moved to the integrated main traveler track on the rear crossbar, the track also ended up on the front crossbar. There would be no problem using the track to mount hardware.

I looked today and I will have to check again but as far as I could see the traveler is not in a groove like on the forward crossbar. However it is possible that my boat is not entirely as delivered stock. It looks like the traveler is riveted to the surface of the rear cross bar on my boat. I have the boat apart and indoors so I took a look inside the cross bars. However a flashlight would have been better than what light I had.

So I just went and checked and the aft cross bar on my boat does not have the slot, the traveler is riveted to the bar and looking at from an end I can see there is not slot. But the front has a slot. One hull appears to have 88 as the last 2 numbers of the hull ID and the other has 89.As to my original question I am assuming it would be best not to drill into the bars for mounting things if at all avoidable yes? No?

So I just went and checked and the aft cross bar on my boat does not have the slot, the traveler is riveted to the bar and looking at from an end I can see there is not slot. But the front has a slot. One hull appears to have 88 as the last 2 numbers of the hull ID and the other has 89.As to my original question I am assuming it would be best not to drill into the bars for mounting things if at all avoidable yes? No?

You almost certainly have a replacement front cross beam that's much newer than the rest of the boat.

In general, holes are bad on the crossbeams, but mounting a couple of pieces of hardware on them with screws / rivets is not going to significantly weaken it. Stay away from the highly loaded areas (next to the hull, around the mast) and you should be OK.

yeah I really don't want to if avoidable. My only concern with mounting to the track is getting a slide that fits better than what I have. Might order slides from APS and see if they are different. Mine are all from windsurfing gear I think. A little small, too much play.

They sell them at Hobie (for the H16 integrated track and at murrays). They work great, I used them to anchor my stops and traveler cheek blocks on my jib setup (the tops are fabricated out of the flat stock PVC, see above post). For equipment mounting plates may I suggest 1/2" PVC flat stock. It is strong, easy to work with (cutting, filing, sanding, drilling and glues well). If you file the underside to match the curve of the beam, you should get a very sturdy secure platform (use at least 2 anchors/plate).